Back here in the US, a growing crisis in America, squatters versus homeowners. It's prompting some states to crack down. Florida, now the first state to criminalize squatting. The question will others soon follow. More now from ABC's Jacquelyn Lee.

Tonight, the growing crackdown on squatting. New York, Georgia, and Alabama working on legislation to join Florida and criminalizing the Brazen Act this week.

You are not going to be able to commandeer somebody's private property and to get away with it.

Nationwide, squatter laws vary state to state with no nationwide enforcement directive. If a homeowner discovers a squatter, law enforcement's hands are tied because it's considered a civil matter. If you touch me again. Two moms in Los Angeles found this out the hard way after a squatter commandeered this $3 million property down the street.

It's a constant problem. They're around, they're helping themselves to neighbor's packages.

In New York City, under state law, a squatter is considered a tenant after 30 days. And because it's a landlord-tenant dispute, the homeowner is forced into a lengthy court process to evict them. One squatting incident in New York turned into a murder investigation. A 52-year-old woman found in a duffle bag after discovering squatters in her late mother's vacant apartment.

Squatters are self-entitled criminal type people.

Flash Shelton, who calls himself the Squatter Hunter, says he helps homeowners across the country get rid of squatters by moving in with them and out squatting the squatter. I own a home, and you're telling me someone can just come in and set up shop and they don't have to leave.

Yeah, I've had many cases where the people are just on vacation. You call the police and They just say, Look, I live here, and you have a civil matter on your hands.

Mary Wend, a homeowner takes a squatter to court. It can take years and thousands of dollars just to get them evicted. What the new Florida law does, it distinguishes between a tenant and a squatter, allowing law enforcement to remove the squatter immediately. It goes into effect July first. Mary?

Such a challenge to address this growing problem. Jacquelyn, thank you.

Hi, everyone. George Stefanopoulos here. Thanks for checking out the ABC News YouTube channel. If you'd like to get more videos, show highlights, and watch live event coverage, click on the right over here to subscribe to our channel. Don't forget to download the ABC News app for breaking news alerts. Thanks for watching.